Kennedy Faces Senate Scrutiny on HHS Budget, Vaccine Stance | JQJO

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday regarding the proposed 26% budget cut to the agency. The hearing will likely revisit his controversial stances on vaccines and fluoride, following his refusal to answer related questions in previous hearings. The proposed budget drastically reduces funding for NIH, CDC, and LIHEAP. Kennedy's past promotion of misinformation about vaccines, despite over 1000 measles cases this year, is expected to be a key focus.

In Edmonton, voters in Alberta overwhelmingly chose to remain in Canada, with seventy‑seven percent supporting unity and twenty‑three percent favoring a path toward separation. The unofficial results, based on more than one million votes, were announced early Tuesday, boosting Prime Minister Mark Carney’s call for national unity amid U.S. trade tensions. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith welcomed the outcome, emphasizing support for a stronger province within a united Canada. Separatist leaders noted that a quarter of Albertans still feel the province should be treated better, but the referendum’s result will allow Canada to advance trade diversification and infrastructure projects.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quietly visited Israel on Monday and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a senior U.S. military official. The unannounced visit occurred just over a week before Netanyahu’s Likud party faces elections. It also follows President Trump’s suggestion of resuming military operations against Iran after the midterm elections. Hegseth confirmed his presence in U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility on X, sharing a photo of himself addressing American service members on a historic mission. The Pentagon declined to comment, and CBS News has sought Israeli government input.

Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles arrested twenty‑eight green card holders on Monday, accusing them of fraudulently registering to vote and lying on naturalization applications. The defendants, including Ana Domínguez of Long Beach and Omar Muñoz of Commerce, claim no recollection of registering. The charges stem from a Trump administration crackdown on alleged non‑citizen voting. State officials argue the cases are isolated and may result from administrative errors. Election experts warn that proving willful violations requires strong evidence. The arrests have sparked confusion and anger among the defendants’ families.

Videos show a Long Beach resident, Ricardo Gonzalez, screaming that his arm is broken while ICE agents pin him to the ground and handcuff him. Gonzalez, a former city employee and U.S. citizen, was struck by a vehicle before the agents arrived. He was later taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, demanding an independent investigation and removal of the agents from field enforcement. The family launched a GoFundMe to cover medical expenses.

Federal authorities charged twenty‑eight people across California with illegally registering to vote or casting ballots in federal elections despite not being U.S. citizens. Eleven were arrested Monday, with seventeen others expected to be taken into custody soon. All defendants are lawful permanent residents, not undocumented immigrants. The charges come weeks before the November third midterm elections, escalating the Trump administration’s fight with state election officials. California officials argue the cases are isolated and not evidence of widespread fraud.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced new rules to protect motorists from harsh private parking charges. Drivers will receive a guaranteed five‑minute period to decide whether to park and a ten‑minute window to leave without penalty. Charges may be cancelled for vehicle breakdowns, medical emergencies, or honest mistakes such as wrong registration entry. Maximum appeal charges will be capped at twenty pounds, and operators risking non‑compliance may lose access to DVLA data. The changes aim to address the record seventeen million private parking tickets issued in 2025‑2026, which could cost drivers more than four point six million pounds daily.